Tourists Asked To Leave Santa Cruz County ASAP As Fires Rage

Read Friday's article on the fires here.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Tourists, out-of-towners and visitors staying at local hotels, motels and vacation rentals are asked to immediately leave the area to free up rooms as evacuee shelters for the CZU Lightning Complex fires are nearing capacity, authorities said Thursday.

The CZU Lightning group of fires, triggered by lightning this week in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, hit a combined 40,000 acres and destroyed 20 structures by Thursday morning with zero containment, Cal Fire said. Evacuation orders are in effect for large parts of the two counties' coastal hill areas, with warnings covering much of the rest.

Evacuation centers, at present, are at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium on Church Street in Santa Cruz and at Half Moon Bay High School.

The Santa Cruz County Emergency Operations Center is working with area cities, post-secondary institutions and school districts to add evacuation space, "however, the scale of existing and anticipated evacuation orders is unprecedented, and the need to safely house evacuees is critical," officials said.

Emergency workers also are using social media to attempt to find residents willing to house evacuees in spare bedrooms, guest houses or in-law units and even in tents. And those under evacuation orders are advised to first seek shelter with friends and family, if possible.

Those offering shelter space can post details on Twitter using the hashtag #LightningShelter, Santa Cruz County said on its Twitter account.

Donations of tents and cases of water are needed, as well, the county said, and such items can be delivered to the warehouse at the rear of the Emeline complex at 1082 Emeline Ave. in Santa Cruz.

For information on accommodations, dial 211 or the Red Cross at 1-866-272-2237. Those in need of assistance evacuating animals, can call (831) 471-1182.

For residents evacuating with horses, the county fairgrounds currently has boarding capacity, and Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton also has offered its facility for use, officials said.

Evacuees who wish to let loved ones know they are OK can go to this Red Cross site and click "List Yourself as Safe and Well.”

Vacationers leaving the area are advised to head south on Highway 1 or north on Highway 17.

• ALSO SEE: CZU Lightning Complex: Thousands Evacuated, Structures Destroyed